The Ultimate Tahiti and Bora Bora Honeymoon Guide

Planning a post-wedding trip to paradise? Here’s everything you need to know about honeymoons in French Polynesia, from where to stay and what to pack to top spots to visit.

If you’re dreaming of a honeymoon on a paradise island, and you’re willing to go above and beyond the average cost of a honeymoon in the UK (it’s worth it), then you can’t go wrong with French Polynesia. Also known as the Society Islands, these idyllic isles in the South Pacific are like heaven on earth – think crystal clear turquoise lagoons, talcum powder beaches, swaying palms and year round sunshine.

The most famous and known as one of the most beautiful honeymoon destinations is Bora Bora, which is a collection of motu (a word for tiny islands) around a large central island, which is home to the awe-inspiring Mount Otemanu.

Tahiti is on the other side of the world (you’re looking at around a 20 hour flight to get there from the UK), but don’t be put off by the distance. The saying “good things come to those who wait” couldn’t be more apt for a Bora Bora honeymoon. It really is worth the long journey to see such incredible natural beauty. You’ll need to make sure you’ve got plenty of annual leave though to make the most of this wonderful part of the world – at least two weeks to factor in the flights and jet lag.

Our top piece of advice when you’re booking a Bora Bora honeymoon would be to include a stopover in Los Angeles on both the way and the way back if you have the time and budget, as it helps break up the flight into manageable chunks. You’ll be stopping in Los Angeles to get your Air Tahiti Nui connection to Papeete in Tahiti anyway, so it makes sense to leave the airport and enjoy some quality time in the City of Angels too.

The final thing to consider about a Bora Bora honeymoon is whether you have a big enough budget to enjoy everything The Society Islands have to offer. This is not a cheap place to go on honeymoon, in fact, it’s one of the most expensive when you factor in the travel costs and the fact that a lot of the resorts are aimed at the luxury, five-star travel market. So it may be beyond your wedding budget, but you’ll be happy to know there’s a wide variety of fantastic UK honeymoon destinations if you’d prefer to not go abroad!

As it’s such a remote location, it’s also really tricky to get resources out to the islands, so food and drink once you’re in your resort can be really pricey. According to championtraveler.com, the average price for seven nights for a couple in Bora Bora is £4,156 (and that’s not including the flight from the UK).

It is possible to visit Tahiti on a tighter budget (with November through to April being the cheapest time to visit), but in order to really relax and enjoy the islands you’ll need to ensure you’ve got plenty of money left in your honeymoon pot after your wedding.

Tahiti

The island of Tahiti is where you’ll first touch down after your international flight from Los Angeles (you can also connect via Paris or Amsterdam) and is the largest of the islands in French Polynesia. It’s a brilliant place to start your Tahiti honeymoon as you’ll probably not want to continue travelling on to the other islands just yet after so long in the air already.

Tahiti doesn’t have the white sand beaches you’ll have seen in the holiday brochures though. Instead, this is an island of magnificent mountains, waterfalls, and lagoons bordered by volcanic back sand beaches. It’s also one of the only islands where you’ll be able to enjoy some nightlife and Polynesian culture outside of your resort.

Bora Bora

Known the world over for its eye-catching and luxurious overwater bungalows, Bora Bora really is a true slice of paradise on earth. You won’t be able to believe your eyes when you first arrive and take in the incredible colours and idyllic sights that surround you.

Nowhere has a bad view in Bora Bora, but some hotels have better vistas than others, overlooking the majestic Mount Otemanu and facing the perfect way for the romantic sunsets.

If you can splash out on an overwater villa, they really are the most romantic option for a honeymoon as you can sit on your private deck with your toes in the gin clear lagoon and watch the sun go down feeling like the only people in the world.

Moorea

Moorea is a short hop (only 20km across the Sea of the Moon) on a small plane from Tahiti. If you’re looking for a combination of beautiful beach time and inland adventures this is a wonderful place to visit.

Moorea is home to both high end, luxury resorts and smaller boutique hotels so is ideal for couples on a tighter budget.

The lagoons here are ideal for water sports and inland you can go on a 4×4 trek up a volcano to see incredible sights as well as taking visits to pineapple farms and buying the area’s famous vanilla pods at the Tropical Gardens. Moorea and Bora Bora are a wonderful honeymoon combination.

Taha’a

Taha’a is the island of vanilla and pearls – in fact, if your senses are good enough you can actually smell the sweet scent of vanilla in the air. Taha’a is a quiet island and doesn’t have many tourists. A visit to this island is all about enjoying the natural botanical beauty and chilling out.

A lot of honeymooners like to visit this island as part of a yacht trip and you’ll find lots of pretty boats bobbing around in the island’s large lagoon.

Rangiroa

Rangiroa is the top destination in the area for honeymooners who love diving and snorkelling. Rangiroa actually consists of more than 200 islets making it the world’s second largest coral atoll, so the sights beneath the surface are second to none.

As well as the amazing sights, laid back island culture and the exotic experiences on offer, a key reason for booking a Tahiti honeymoon is for the amazing weather.

The best time to visit French Polynesia is from June until the end of August as the climate is at its driest and the temperature is very comfortable, sitting somewhere between the high 20s and low 30s Celsius.

That said, French Polynesia is a year round destination, although you may have a few tropical showers and greater humidity outside of the peak period.

The good news about a Bora Bora honeymoon is that you can pack light as the temperature never really dips below 21 degrees Celsius. During the day time you’ll want plenty of swimsuits, bikinis or swim shorts as well as something casual to wear over the top for lunch, which you’ll probably enjoy with your toes in the sand.

You won’t need many shoes, maybe just flip flops, sandals, trainers for sports like tennis and some smarter shoes for dinners inside your hotel or resort (wedges rather than heels are a smart move for ladies as walking in sand in heels is almost impossible!). If you’re planning on snorkelling or diving you’ll also want some reef shoes to protect your feet from the coral.

In the evening if you’re eating al fresco you may need a cardigan, light jacket or pashmina to wear with your dress or shirt and smart shorts as the nights can be a bit cooler. Choose to pack clothes in fabrics like linen and cotton to help keep you cool.

You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got plenty of sunscreen as the sun is strong and it’s not cheap to buy once in resort. A wide-brimmed hat or cap will be really useful too as well as sunglasses. The sun shining on all that blue water and white sand can make it hard to see. At night there are mosquitoes too, so a non-toxic bug spray is essential if you’re prone to getting bitten. The luxury resorts will provide this in your room though.

There’s romance around every corner on a Bora Bora honeymoon, so much so that a huge proportion of tourists who come here are honeymooners. Romantic activities include:

• Chartering a yacht for the day (or overnight) and exploring a deserted private island
• Having a Champagne picnic on the beach
• Enjoying a private dinner on the beach
• Star-gazing
• A sunset cruise to see dolphins, whales and manta rays
• A deep sea fishing trip
• A 4×4 safari.

Each resort and hotel will have their own list of amazing activities to try too.

You’ll probably spend the majority of your time dining in your chosen resorts on a Bora Bora honeymoon, however on the island of Tahiti you can head into the town or the waterfront and discover some more local options with traditional Polynesian fare.

Top foodie spots include:

• Mango Cafe,
• The Roulottes (Street Food caravans) on Place Vaiete
• Les Trois Brasseurs
• Le Carré
• Blue Banana
• La Plage de Maui
• Taumatai
• O Belvédère

If you’re planning a honeymoon in French Polynesia then don’t expect to be spending your nights partying to loud music until dawn. The vibe in Tahiti is a lot more laid back than somewhere like Ibiza and evenings are much more likely to be spend having a gourmet meal and watching the sunset with a glass of bubbly.

There are bars and nightlife spots on the main Island of Tahiti though. In the capital, Papeete, you’ll find plenty of places to make merry Polynesian-style. You can enjoy a Tahitian dance show paired with traditional food at some of the resorts in Tahiti like the Intercontinental Tahiti and Hotel Le Royal Tahitien, Le Royal Kikiriri or Le Captain Bligh Restaurant.

The “red light” district of Papeete is alone Rue Des Ecoles and Le Piano Bar does a late night drag show that is open to both locals and tourists. On a Friday when the cruise ships visit Tahiti there’s free live music and dancing all night on the waterfront. If you love cocktails then Le Chaplin’s or Le Retro are the places to seek out.

 

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